A Guide To Books On Silent Film
A new-found appreciation for Silent Film is in the air, so with that in mind, and in an attempt to kill several birds with one stone, we’ve decided to produce a round-up/guide to what we feel to be the best books on the early days of the cinema. In an attempt to measure the suitability … Read more
Griffith’s Storm – The Birth Of A Nation
The Birth Of A Nation is an undeniable cinematic revolution wrapped around a vision of supposed revolution that is both revisionist and vulgar. With it Griffith created one of the great paradoxical cinematic experiences of the early years of the American film industry, with its repugnance counteracted by a remarkable intonation of cinematic language. While … Read more
Masters Of Cinema Quarter Two 2012 Schedule
It seems like only yesterday that we were praising the announcements made at the Masters Of Cinema’s Spring 2012 event. Alas this afternoon marked the boutique home video label’s declaration of intent for this years second quarter, with an eclectic bunch of flicks making an appearance. The unlikely pairing of Alfred Hitchcock and Kenji Mizoguchi … Read more
Introducing Chaplin Week at Hope Lies at 24 Frames Per Second
Charlie Chaplin. The Little Tramp. Charlot. Regardless of what name you know him by, the chances are that you do know of him. Without a hint of hyperbole intended it’s not much of an overstatement to suggest that Chaplin was quite probably the most famous man of the first half of the 20th century. Speaking … Read more
The Artist Addendum – The Film In Context
Following our recent piece on Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, in which we explored the elements that made up that particular film here for your reading pleasure is a piece in a similar vein looking at Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist. Sunset Boulevard - Probably the film that would immediately spring to mind for most when faced with the topic … Read more
The Hope Lies Film Of 2011 – The Tree Of Life
Well, it may not be much of a surprise, but Terrence Malick’s masterpiece The Tree Of Life was the film we feel was the strongest out of 2011′s many varied offerings. At once both the most ambitious and personal film of the mainstream cinema of 2011, The Tree Of Life quite literally charts the birth … Read more
The Hope Lies Top Ten of 2011 – Five thru Two
Welcome to the second part of this year’s Top Ten. If you missed it, here’s the first part from yesterday. We’re saving the number one for tomorrow, but I’m sure many of you will be able to guess what it is already. Number 5 – The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius’ film has stolen the hearts … Read more
The 2011 Also-rans – Part Two: The European Cinema
Merry Christmas! We hope you’re all having an amazing holidays, and offer up this morsel for your post-Xmas consideration. Last week we posted up the first part of our round-up of the films that haven’t made our top ten list for the year (that can be found here). Now, with everything seen (thanks Mr. Fincher) … Read more
The 2011 Also-rans – Part One: The American Cinema
Thanks to genuine end-of-year contenders being released so late in the day (*cough*Dragon Tattoo*cough*) we’re having to stagger this years end of year list. First up is part one of our Also-rans section, part two of which will be posted on Boxing Day, after Fincher’s latest has opened. Awkward, we know, but by the same … Read more
King Of The Hill – Kenneth Lonergan’s Margaret
Kenneth Lonergan’s film, to steal another critic’s summation of a different film entirely, is very much an “intimate epic”; a relatively small story told against the backdrop of a grand canvas. Margaret is essentially the tale of a young girl’s breakdown. In the wake of a horrifying accident to which she paid witness to and … Read more
